title: A combination of molecular and morphological approaches resolves species in the taxonomically difficult genus Procladius Skuse (Diptera: Chironomidae) despite high intra-specific morphological variation.
abstract: Molecular approaches for identifying aquatic macroinvertebrate species are increasingly being used but there is ongoing debate about the number of DNA markers needed to differentiate species accurately. Here, we use two mitochondrial genes (cytochrome oxidase I, cytochrome b) and a nuclear gene (carbamoylphosphate synthetase) to differentiate species variation within the taxonomically challenging chironomid genus Procladius from southern Australia, a genus which is important for pollution monitoring. The mitochondrial genes indicated cryptic species that were subsequently linked to morphological variation at the larval and pupal stage. Two species previously described based on morphological criteria were linked to molecular markers, and there was evidence for additional cryptic species. Each genetic marker provided different information, highlighting the importance of considering multiple genes when dissecting taxonomically difficult groups, particularly those used in pollution monitoring.
authors.affiliation: Victorian Centre for Aquatic Pollution Identification and Management, Department of Zoology, Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, 3010, Australia. mecarew@unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Carew
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001699:Biometry; D002222:Carbamoyl-Phosphate Synthase (Ammonia) / Q000235:genetics; D002683:Chironomidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV; D002222:Carbamoyl-Phosphate Synthase (Ammonia)